Settling comfortably in my chair, I gazed out the window for some writing inspiration. Nil, Nada, Zip, Zilch came to mind! Oh, boy, this week’s writing assignment is gonna be interesting!

As I sat at my computer waiting for some sort of idea to penetrate my brain, which by the way, felt like oatmeal, an instant message popped up from my friend, Sue, aka: Sassygirl63!

Sassygirl63: Hey, what’ya doin?

Naturemom5: Funny u should ask! Remember that Internet Writing Club I joined? I’m trying to think of a story centered on the word “Exams.” The past four writing challenges have been topics related to the educational theme. They were First Day of School, Peer Pressure, Teachers, Elementary School, and now Exams! Can you believe it? I’ve been having anxiety revisiting all my school memories! LOL

Sassygirl63: Good luck! I can barely write a coherent sick note to Ben’s teacher!

Naturemom5: Funny, but that doesn’t help me! I think the person leading the writing challenge is either my old Creative Writing teacher who loved sucking the last creative brain cell out of our heads or the person has one huuuuuuuuuge sense of humor!

Sassygirl63: LOL! Well, while we’re on the subject of exams, remember the one we took in Mr. Donahue’s class--the teacher with the really frizzy hair? That exam was done as a goof on Mark Tennpenny because he never had a pen. I remember his exact words, “Ok, class, take out a piece of paper, write your name on it and pass it forward—and no one is to give Mark a pen!”

Naturemom5: Oh, yeah! I almost forgot about that! Remember the look on Mark’s face when Mr. Donahue said, “Great job, everyone, u all get an “A,” except for Mark!” I guess he was trying to teach him a lesson to bring his own pen to class!

Sassygirl63: Guess so. Oh, and do u remember his “real” exams? He was the only teacher who let us take “open book” ones. He was the greatest!

Naturemom5: Well anyway, enough talk about exams! I need an idea, and I need it fast! I only have a few days and a few brain cells left!

Sassygirl63: Don’t look my way, GF; remember, I got straight D’s in English! I still have nightmares about that class!

Sassygirl63: Ok, let’s be serious now! I know you’re the type who wants to write your stuff completely on your own, but have u considered all the different types of exams u can write about? There’s final exams, driver’s exams, police exams, physical exams, college entrance exams, and ummm…well, ya know…pelvic exams.

Sassygirl63: Well, I don’t know about u, but I think there’s been an awful lot of writing goin’ on between us about exams, don’t u? Maybe u can copy and paste our conversation and send it in. Who knows, it might count!

Naturemom5: No Way!! U know what I think? I think you’re the one with brain cells so low they’re registering in the negative zone! LOL

Sassygirl63: Well, GF, gotta go. I have to help Ann with her English homework. Ain’t that a hoot? Ron is working tonight.

Naturemom5: Please don’t go anywhere near that child with an English book! LOL Send her over tonight. She and Katie can do their homework together. I’ll help her!

This was great! Very funny! I really struggled with this week's challenge & I'm boycotting the next weeks (the very word prom makes me break out into hives). I can't wait to see what you come up with! Great job, I'm voting for this one!

I know what you mean about having Zilch to write about the topic. That’s how I felt about “Peer Pressure” it was to depressing to think about, I have mentally blocked out most of “elementary school,” I didn’t even get to go to my prom, and thinking about it is very painful. I can hardly wait till we get out of the school theme. I like writing in the writing challenges but have had to pass on a lot of school theme ones. I don’t choose to reopen old wounds, and my school days by and large were nightmares happening.